She was a single mother of three who had been struggling financially who had always intended to pay the money back, but matters escalated. She wanted to tell the school but was embarrassed, she said.

Brian Cross, defending, stressed that she was a woman of good character who had got into severe financial difficulties.

Initially she started using the money before banking it intending to pay it back but there had been difficulties over her benefits. She also had other difficulties including bereavements.

She was a vulnerable lady who could not cope in the job and when her benefits stopped she was unable to repay the money.

She was remorseful in the extreme and she wished she could “turn the clock back”.

Probation officer Pamela Roberts said that Sterio felt “horrific” about the crime she had committed, and was extremely remorseful.

She had three boys aged 12, nine and six, and she now had a partner who was supportive and helping to sort out her finances.

The defendant had worked as a travel agent, as a youth worker and a class room assistant and had a positive attitude towards employment. She currently had two job interviews lined up and was a low risk of reconviction.